Hyderabad: Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit (HZU), thwarted a gold smuggling attempt at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) and arrested three individuals, including two ground handling staff.
The operation unfolded near the aerobridge at the international passengers’ arrival gate, where DRI officials intercepted an Indian passenger who arrived from Dubai via Muscat. The passenger was caught red-handed while handing over smuggled gold to a ground handling staff member.
Further investigation revealed that the gold was to be delivered to another ground staff member waiting in the airport’s parking area. The plan was to later return the gold to the same passenger once he exited the customs area, thereby evading detection.
Upon inspection, officials recovered 30 gold bars, each weighing 10 tolas, concealed in three packets. The total weight of the foreign-origin gold was 3,500 gm, with a purity of 99.9%, and was valued at approximately 3.45 crore.
The smuggled gold, along with packing material, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. All three individuals—the passenger and two ground handling staff—were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Officials said that further investigation into the smuggling network is underway.
